Chapter 89 Chief Josh Michelle
Vanessa’s car pulled up at the police station, her tires rolling to a slow stop as she exhaled deeply. The drive back had been quiet, giving her time to collect her thoughts, but now that she was here, reality came crashing down. She had changed into a fresh uniform, crisp and professional, but the exhaustion clung to her like a second skin.
As she stepped out of the car and walked toward the entrance, she could feel the weight of the gazes on her. The men in the station all turned their heads as she passed, some offering polite greetings, others giving her appreciative looks that made her skin crawl. She nodded in acknowledgment but kept her pace steady, ignoring the way some of them lingered just a little too long. She had been here for a short while, but the novelty of a stunning new officer hadn’t worn off for them yet. She hoped it would soon.
The moment she stepped inside, the buzz of conversation and ringing phones filled the air. The scent of coffee mixed with stale paper as officers moved about, handling reports, making calls, and dealing with the aftermath of another chaotic day in the city. Vanessa didn’t waste time; she walked straight to the reporting desk and handed in her statement regarding the earlier incident. She briefly glanced at the reports piling up and, just as she expected, spotted Ann’s name. Her report matched exactly what Vanessa had instructed her to say. A small smirk tugged at Vanessa’s lips as she murmured, "Good girl." Ann had done well.
"Officer Carter," a soft voice called, pulling Vanessa from her thoughts. She turned to see a young female officer with glasses standing a few steps away, her hands clasped behind her back. "The chief has requested to see you in his office."
Vanessa’s expression darkened slightly. "What does he want now?" she muttered under her breath, her brows furrowing. She already had a headache from everything that had happened earlier, and now she had to deal with him?
Josh Mitchell. The police chief. A man she detested more than any criminal she had ever arrested. He was a man who didn’t earn his position through merit but through political influence. A man who had no real authority yet sat in an office making decisions he had no business making. The only thing he was truly good at was abusing his power, using his position to manipulate and control, especially when it came to women.
Vanessa sighed, rubbing her temples before straightening her shoulders. "Alright, let’s get this over with."
She followed the young officer down the hallway, her boots clicking against the polished floors. When they arrived at the chief’s office, the officer gave her a small nod before stepping aside. Vanessa didn’t bother knocking; she pushed the door open and stepped inside.
Josh Mitchell was sitting at his desk, flipping through some files with a look of deep concentration that Vanessa knew was fake. The idiot probably didn’t even understand what he was looking at. His office smelled of expensive cologne, mixed with the faintest hint of cigarette smoke.